Compare towns
Lee vs Barnstead vs Laconia vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lee | Barnstead | Laconia | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
4,994 |
17,085Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Laconia and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Barnstead School District | Laconia School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.